The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 17, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2002
John L. Howard, Rochester, NY (US);
John J. Bigenwald, Penfield, NY (US);
Bruce E. Crayton, Rochester, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An attaching and securing apparatus for removably attaching a first module of an office machine to a second module thereof. The attaching and securing apparatus includes (a) a first lug member on the first module having a first set of aligning features and a first screw receiving hole; (b) a second lug member on the second module having a second screw receiving hole for aligning with the first screw receiving hole, and a second set of aligning features for aligning with the first set of aligning features; (c) a ratchet device located inside at least one of the first and the second screw receiving holes for receiving and retaining a screw inserted therethrough, the ratchet device including at least one biased and deflectable spring member having a first normal position for reducing a diameter of the at least one screw receiving hole, and a second deflected position for engaging threads of an inserted screw and for effectively retaining the inserted screw within the first and the second screw receiving holes; and (d) a removable screw for manually and easily inserting through the first and the second screw receiving holes, the screw having a root diameter, surface features, and an outside diameter essentially equal to the diameter of each of the first and the second screw receiving holes, thereby enabling easy manual securing and removable attachment of the first module of the office machine to the second module thereof.